New Zealand Frogs & Reptiles

11003-90011 Whitaker's skink (Oligosoma whitakeri) one of the few surviving mainland individuals. This endangered nocturnal skink, requires an extremely moist humid environment. It has undergone a massive prehistoric range decline due largely to predation pressure from introduced rats. It is now known from just two small predator free islands, plus a mainland location 500km away. If they persist in the wild on the mainland today, it is only in deep, moisture rich, boulder banks. Pukerua Bay, Kapiti Coast *